One of Nintendos most underrated spinoffs gets a rerelease almost 15 years later. Check out what Kidzworld thought of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga!
By: Max Cannon
While the most famous character in all of video gaming is mostly known for his running and jumping platformers, Mario has often shown off some of his most interesting quirks when straying from the beaten path. The Mario Party games make for some fun multiplayer, Mario Golf is a surprisingly deep experience, and the crown jewel of the Mario spinoffs are the Paper Mario RPGs. But the truly underappreciated gems are the handheld RPGs of the Mario & Luigi series which takes the ideas of Paper Mario and delivers them with more consistency, if you missed out on the series back when it started on the Game Boy Advance than there was never a better place to get started than the with the 3DS remake.
Standing the Test of Time
Mario games are often criticized for their formulaic stories but many of the Mario RPGs offer the best chances at deviation from what the series typically offers. Rather than exclusively focusing on the usual "Bowser kidnapping the princess" type of story, the Mario RPGs showcase some fantastic new villains and Superstar Saga kicked the series off with Cackletta and Fawful to immediately set the bar incredibly high. To keep potential plot points hidden, the basic setup of the game is that Princess Peach's voice is dangerously loud and, after flying into the neighboring Beanbean Kingdom, Mario takes his reluctant brother Luigi on an adventure to set things right back at home in the Mushroom Kingdom.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions - Official Game Trailer - Nintendo E3 2017
As I mentioned earlier, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a remake of the original Game Boy Advance game and is even better now than it was then. The game is a shining example of how well Nintendo can write games and give such distinct personality to a pair of silent characters. Personally, I remember enjoying the world of this game so much when I fell in love with it as a child on GBA and I didn't expect this game to age so gracefully. If you're looking for a new take on Mario than you may be surprised to know that we got a refreshing spin on the series in 2003 while the same game feels just in place in 2017. The looks have been improved noticeably but the original art style still feels totally preserved even with the switch from 2D to 3D.
But Mario games aren't beloved for their story but their awesome gameplay and this entry is no different.
The game's dialogue and art style really put the story on a pedestal.
Turn Based Battles with Tension
Each of the Mario RPGs stand tall because of their awesome, awesome gameplay that I'm personally surprised more games haven't stolen from. While most turn-based RPGs, which focus on taking turns to attack in battle, will require nothing more than a button press and some patience to progress in battle, Mario RPGs require you to actively press buttons to dodge, counter, and attack when in battle with your enemies, there's never a dull moment with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga's battle system.
The game's battle system keeps players constantly engaged.
Outside of battling, exploring the world gives its own rewards in the gameplay. Things aren't as involved or puzzley as games in the Paper Mario series, especially the console versions, but Mario & Luigi's world is so interesting to explore that just speaking with the citizens of the Beanbean Kingdom is interesting enough to make a pass. You'll use tools like hammers and special jumps to traverse the game's world but when Paper Mario does world exploration so well it's hard to not make the comparison.
Final Thoughts
If this kicks off a resurgence in the Mario & Luigi series it would be welcomed with open arms. The textbook definition of quirkiness and exemplary RPG gameplay makes Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga even better now than it was then.
Pros
- Unique Gameplay
- Original Style
Cons
- Simple World Puzzles
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Game Rating: 
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga 3DS GameCourtesy of Nintendo
Available Now for 3DS.
Have Your Say!
Are you going to revisit the world of Mario & Luigi? Have you played any other Mario RPGs? Comment below!
